The Longest Day

The last day of Spring Training is always the longest.

It drags out of bed and down the stairs and up the street. There are newspapers to buy and coffee, too. Maybe a cigar for later. That would be nice. There’s no rush because the team is still in Florida.

“Way down in Miami,” says the guy at the newsstand. “They’ll come home after tonight‘s game. We won’t see ‘em until tomorrow.”

That’s a long way off for everyone in this neighborhood.

“And tomorrow isn‘t even Opening Day,” snaps the newsstand guy. “But at least the boys will be back in town.”

That means the Yankees will throw it around a little in the Bronx. They will take batting practice and probably some infield. The pitchers will toss in the outfield and throw in the bullpen.

People will hang by the players’ gate and wait for them to head home after the workout. A few might be autograph hounds looking to make a buck. Most will be fans. There are regulars that you’ll see before and after every game. The rest will just want their first look at baseball.

It’s coming.